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Broad, Bipartisan Opposition to Solar Tariffs as ITC Hears Trade Case
Led by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar industry, elected officials and U.S. trading partners argued today against Suniva’s bid for trade relief at a packed International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing. Hundreds of American solar workers concerned about their jobs attended the hearing
Bishop Statement on Infrastructure Executive Order
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s executive order on establishing accountability in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects
HPTF Financing Helps Tenants Preserve Affordable Housing Units in Columbia Heights
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) closed a loan agreement totaling more than $1.5 million that will help preserve 13 affordable housing units in Ward 4 for a tenant organization that invoked their rights under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). The funding was made available through the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF).
Statement from NAHB Chairman on President Trump’s Executive Order Rescinding the FFRMS
Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, issued the following statement on President Trump's executive order that effectively rolls back the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard:
President Donald J. Trump Works to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure
“Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, and railways gleaming across our very, very beautiful land.” – President Donald J. Trump
Clean Energy Advocates Welcome Improvements to Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program Regulations
The following is a joint statement from the listed solar organizations: The undersigned solar organizations thank Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Commissioner Judith Judson and her team at the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for improvements made to the final regulations in the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program.
WSSC to Detail Cause of Discolored Water
WSSC General Manager and CEO Carla A. Reid will join Potomac Water Filtration Plant officials, water quality experts and local county health representatives TODAY to detail the cause of discolored water currently impacting WSSC customers. The event also will serve to reassure the public that the water is safe -- this is an aesthetic issue and not a public health issue.
Bipartisan Group of 69 Lawmakers Urge Feds To Oppose Punitive Tariffs That Would Gut...
Today, a bipartisan group of 16 senators and 53 members of the House of Representatives sent open letters to U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Chairman Rhonda Schmidtlein urging the ITC to reject a petition that would slap tariffs on imported solar panels and cells.
NARI stands behind new Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills (BUILDS) Act
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) strongly supports the introduction of S.1599, the Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills Act (BUILDS Act). With the widespread shortage of skilled labor in this country, NARI believes this legislation would provide much needed assistance to the many businesses in our industry impacted by the workforce shortage.
FARÍAS SWORN IN AS HUD’S ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Texas native Anna Maria Farías is the new Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Following her confirmation last week by the U.S. Senate, HUD Secretary Ben Carson today administered the oath of office to Farías who will now lead the Department's work to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities.
Housing Affordability Inches Lower in Second Quarter
Rising home prices offset a quarter-point drop in mortgage interest rates to move housing affordability slightly lower in the second quarter of 2017, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today
Statement from NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald on HUD’s Affordable Housing Report
Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new report on the number of rent-burdened families rising to the second-highest level on record
HEALTHCARE SECTOR MUST INVEST IN HOUSING TO IMPROVE HEALTH OF MOST VULNERABLE
As Congress grapples with the future of healthcare, politicians, advocates, and others would do well to take a page from a recent report published by Mercy Housing and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), titled “Innovative Models In Health and Housing.”
BOMA INTERNATIONAL ELECTS 2017-2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International elected six Executive Committee members at the 2017 BOMA International Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee, in late June.
July New Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Increased 5.1 Percent Year over Year
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Applications Survey (BAS) data for July 2017 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 5.1 percent compared to July 2016. Compared to June 2017, applications decreased by 12 percent. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.
Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications increased 3.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 4, 2017
NCSHA PRESENTS TESTIMONY AT U.S. SENATE HEARING EXAMINING SOLUTIONS TO AMERICA’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) President Grant S. Whitaker testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance during an August 1 hearing on “America’s Affordable Housing Crisis: Challenges and Solutions.” Whitaker addressed the nation’s critical need for affordable housing and the roles the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) and tax-exempt private activity Housing Bonds (Housing Bonds) play in responding to that need.
Statement by National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel on HUD’s...
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published on August 9 its Worst Case Housing Needs: 2017 Report to Congress, showing that 8.3 million unassisted very low income households in America spend more than half of their income on their housing, live in severely substandard housing, or both. The number of households experiencing this “worst case housing” has increased by 41% since 2007 and by 66% since 2001. We are experiencing an affordable housing crisis of unprecedented proportions.
DOE reports find wind energy is more affordable than ever
Wind energy costs are lower than ever, with steady advances in technology and better wind turbine performance, according to three new reports released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). New DOE reports include the “2016 Wind Technologies Market Report,” the “2016 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report,” and the “2016 Distributed Wind Market Report.”
BOMA INTERNATIONAL HONORS FOUR REGIONAL MEMBERS
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International honored four of its members with the Regional Member of the Year Award during the 2017 BOMA International Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee, in late June. Regional Member of the Year Awards are given annually to BOMA members who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to both the association and the commercial real estate industry.
HUD REPORTS “WORST CASE HOUSING NEEDS” INCREASED IN 2015
The number of very poor unsubsidized families struggling to pay their monthly rent and who may also be living in substandard housing increased between 2013 and 2015, according to a new report released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD reports that in 2015, 8.3 million very low-income unassisted families paid more than half their monthly income for rent, lived in severely substandard housing, or both.
Philadelphia symposium on economic empowerment addresses financial challenges facing low- and moderate-income families
An Aug. 16 symposium in downtown Philadelphia will explore how knowledge and skills alone won't improve a person's financial situation; policies, programs and financial products are necessary to promote prosperity for more individuals and families.
Trade Case Petitioners Brought Collapse of Businesses on Themselves
Suniva and SolarWorld have failed to show that a rising level of imports caused them serious injury and left them unable to compete in the U.S. market, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and others stated in pre-hearing written arguments to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). If the ITC agrees with SEIA’s arguments, such a failure would result in an ITC finding of no injury, ending the case.
Appraisal Institute Book Helps Value Green Commercial Real Estate
This new book is a valuable resource for those who want to keep up and stay ahead of the newest ideas and trends in commercial real estate, Appraisal Institute President Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, wrote in the books foreword
MBA Statement on Introduction of SAFE Transitional License Act
David H. Stevens, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), released the following statement on the bipartisan introduction of the SAFE Transitional License Act in the U.S. Senate. The bill (S. 1753) was introduced and originally co-sponsored last week by Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ). Substantially similar bipartisan legislation (H.R. 2948) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in late June, and originally cosponsored at that time by Reps. Steve Stivers (R-OH), Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), respectively.
State Legislators’ Resolution Shows Broad Backing For Federal Energy Efficiency Investments
The Alliance to Save Energy released the following statement from President Kateri Callahan lauding the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for adopting a resolution Monday urging the U.S. Congress to fully fund the Department of Energy’s (DOE) appliance and equipment standards program. The resolution also seeks to ensure that the Department meets its statutory obligations to update energy efficiency standards regularly and to enforce manufacturer compliance with such standards
PHH Agrees to Pay Over $74 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability...
PHH Corp. PHH Mortgage Corp. and PHH Home Loans (collectively, PHH) have agreed to pay the United States $74,453,802 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting mortgage loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA), guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) that did not meet applicable requirements, the Justice Department announced today.
Housing Market Continues to Make Gains, Though Permits Fail to Keep Pace
In a further sign that the housing sector is continuing to gain momentum, nearly 300 markets nationwide posted an increase in economic and housing activity from the first quarter to the second quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) released today
NAHB Members Celebrate National Building Systems Week
Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Building Systems Councils are celebrating Building Systems Week from Aug. 7 - 11 This week-long event aims to educate NAHB members and consumers on the advantages of systems-built homes as opposed to traditional stick building.
VA Extends Funding to Groups Impacted By Grant and Per Diem Program Changes
VA Secretary David J. Shulkin announced an extension of funding to organizations that applied for Fiscal Year 2018 grants under VA’s Homeless Providers’ Grant and Per Diem Program, but would be found ineligible due to new program guidelines.
